Science Says Coffee And Chocolate Is The Answer To All Our Problems (Kind Of)

Now, tell us something we don't know.

We don't need to tell you, both coffee and chocolate are heaven. Have you ever noticed, however, that together they give a lift like nothing else can?

Well, apparently, we're not imagining it. Science has proven that chocolate and coffee are the ultimate crime fighting duo.

via Giphy

A new study has examined the effect that the combination of cocoa and caffeine has on mood, motivation and cognitive functions and, believe it or not, it seems to be pretty good.

The study, conducted at the Clarkson University in New York, carried out tests with four different types of beverages: caffeine alone, brewed cocoa, caffeinated cocoa and a placebo (flavoured and coloured brewed water.)

Those who drank caffeine alone, were shown to make less concentration-related errors and feel more motivated. They did, however, find the tasks more stressful, as they saw an increase in anxiety levels.

via Giphy

Participants who drank brewed cocoa were noted to have a reduced number of errors and were able to efficiently process tasks at a greater speed, but the cocoa "had little effect on motivation to perform cognitive tasks or mood states such as feelings of energy and fatigue." (Meaning, while it helps our accuracy, it doesn't lift our motivation to fight against exhaustion in the way a cup of coffee would.)

These two products were seen to work in beautiful harmony together, however, in the case of those who drank caffeinated cocoa. The results show that, while caffeine alone caused anxiety, drinking it with cocoa deactivated this occurrence, creating the perfect balance. The study states that "the caffeine in caffeinated cocoa can enhance attention while the brewed cocoa can attenuate the anxiety provoking effects of caffeine alone."

via Giphy

To sum up, combining the two allows caffeine to give us the boost we need to help our concentration and improve our performance, while the cocoa counteracts the level of anxiety, caused by the caffeine, which helps us manage our stress levels during the task.

While everything should be had in moderation, if you do anything tomorrow, it should be going to get yourself a delicious mocha. Your work performance could depend on it. (Plus, you've earned it.)